Boot or shoe



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. P. HURD.

v BOOT ORVSHOE. No. 528,724. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

' (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet2.

- 0. P. HURD.

BOOT OR SHOE.

No. 528,724. Patented Nov. 6, 1894.

(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3} O. P. HURD. BOOT 0R SHOE.

No. 528,724. Patentedflov. 6, 1894.

uomus Pinups ca. momma, wunmcmu n c NITED STATES OSCAR P. HURD, orBINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

BOOT OR SHOE.

JPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,724, dated November6, 1894. Application filed February 16, 1894.. Seriallio. 500,402- (Nomodel.) Patented in Canada April 9, 1894, No- 45,752

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR P. HURD, a citi zen of the United States,residing at Bingham ton, in the county of Broome and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boots or Shoes,(for which Canadian Letters Patent No. 45,752, hearing date of April 9,1894, have been granted me;) and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters of reference marked 'Ehereon, which form a part of thisspecificaion.

My invention relates to that class of'boots orshoes which are providedwith sections of elastic material arranged so as to draw the shoetightly around the wearers ankle; and my principal object is 'to adaptthis principle to boots of the rougher class, and at the same time toconstruct the device so cheaply that its cost will not prevent its useby workingmen, although it is apparent that the device is applicable toall kinds of boots.

. With this object in view the invention consists of certain improvedfeatures of construction and arrangement of parts that will now be fullydescribed and finally embodied in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a perspective viewof the boot showing portions broken away, and Figs. 2 to 13 views of thevarious parts used in con structing the boot.

The boot comprises seven main parts, viz: the front top portion A, thebacktop portion B, the lower front portion 0, the lower back portion D,the two sections of elastic goring E, and the vamp F. The front topportion A is shown in detail by Fig. 2, and is formed with its loweredge A curving downwardly from each side so as to form a point midwaysaid edge, and with the upper edge A curving downwardly from each sidein conformity with the curve of the edge A, so as to form theindentation a midway of the upper edge.

The section A extends from themiddle of each side of the boot around thefront portion thereof and is joined at its sides to the top back portionB. This portion, B, has its upper edge, B, formed in a manner similar tothe corresponding edge, A of the section A, while its lower edge 13 isformed straight.

The lower front section 0 is shown in outline by Fig. 6, and has itsupper edge G formed with a curve conforming to the curve A of thesection A, the said edges being adapted to be joined by stitching orotherwise, and the section 0 is crimped along the line C so that it willconform to the shape of the instep. The rear sides 0 of the section 0extend to the middle of each side of the boot and in vertical alignmentwith the sides of the sections A and B, while its lower edge 0':

is secured to the corresponding portion of the vamp F. i I

The lower back section D is illustrated alone in Fig. 4, and thissection is formed with a plane upper edge D, while its lower edge D isformed sloping upwardly from each side so as to form a triangularindentation in said edge. This section is also crirnped, on the line (1,so that it will conform to the ankle at this point.

The sides of the section D are each formed with an vinwardly andupwardly extending curve 01, beginningat a short distance above thelower edge and ending at the upper edge. The purpose of this curved sideis to form a recess within which the elastic goring E may be received.The sides of the section D, below the curve d are secured on each sideof the boot, to the edge cof the section 0, while the upper edge D ofsaid section is secured to the lower side B of the section B, and thetriangular lower edge D is in turn secured to the vamp F. By thisarrangement two vertically elongated openings are left, one in each sideof the boot, and it is in these openings that the sections of elasticgoring E are arranged and secured at their edges to the correspondingedges'of the adjacent boot sections as shown in Fig. 1. This goringoperates, as in other boots and shoes of this class, to draw thesections 0 and D closely around the ankle of the wearer, making the bootfit neatly and holding it in place. It will be seen that by means of thepeculiar construction here employed a boot is provided with this elasticfeature, withoutmaking its contoo strnction so expensive as to excludeits use by persons of moderate means, and the advantage of such a bootfor all classes of wearers is manifest.

If so desired the sections 13 and D may be formed of an integral piece,but I prefer to form them as shown, since this is the cheaper mode.

Sometimes it may be found desirable to employ only one gore on only oneside of the boot leg, but two are generally preferred.

By reference to Fig. 1 the internal construction of my boot may be seen,and in this figure I have illustrated a peculiar construction of heelstiffening and staying devices. This consists, of the section G, whichis provided with a lower edge G slanting upwardly from each side so asto form a triangular recess as in the section D, and with the curvedsides 9 beginning at points above the lower edge equal to aboutone-third the length of the section and extending to the upper edgethereof, the curves being made to conform to the curved edges cl of thesection D.

Section G is firmly stitched to the lower edge of the section D, and itis crimped on the line g so that it will conform to the shape of theboot. Thesection Gis in effect a reproduction of the section D, thedifference lying in the lower portion of the former section, as thisportion extends below the section D, and down to the lower edge of thevamp F. It will be seen how this strengthening section, G, will greatlyadd to the efficiency of the boot, since it will brace the section D andprevent wrinkling.

If so desired the section G may be formed in two pieces and secured toeach other on the line g, but I regard the construction here shown asthe best.

Operating in conjunction with the stay G is the counter-stiffener II,which is shown in detail by Fig. 13, and which consists of a narrowstrip of stiff leather, extending along the inner side of the rearportion of the vamp F and beyond the stay G. The goring E is secured tothe edges and g of the sections D and G respectively by stitching, andthe rear lower edges of the goring are arranged between the two sectionsso that it will be firmly held in place and so that none of its edgeswill be left on the inside of the boot.

The boot may be lined with any suitable or 1 preferred material, andFig. 1 indicates the construction of this lining. It will be necessaryto form the lining in various sections. Thus, the letter I indicates asection of the lining corresponding to the back top portion B of theboot, while K indicates asimilarde- Vice corresponding to the frontportion A. The edges of these sections are securely stitched to eachother. The front portion of the vamp and of the section 0 is lined withtwo sections L, which are for each side of the boot and which extendfrom the lower edge of the section K downwardly to the sole and forwardto the toe of the boot, each being securely stitched to the vamp F andsection G, and to each other, on the line L.

Straps N may be provided and these are secured to the lining sections Iand K as may be seen in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that the application of my construction is notconfined to boots of the rougher class, but may be applied to any classof boot or shoe. It may also be adapted to ladies riding boots and tofelt boots for either sex, as felt can be crimped and shaped as well asleather.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new,'and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. An upper for foot gear comprising a vamp, a front leg section securedto the vamp and having its sides extending to the middle of the device,a back leg section having lower forward extensions attached to the frontleg section and secured to the vamp, an inner reinforcing and stayingsection for the back conforming to and corresponding in shape with thesaid back leg section and projecting beyond the lower edge thereof adistance corresponding to the width of the rear portion of the vamp toreach to the lower edge thereof, elastic gores secured in the spacesbetween the opposing edges of the front and the back sections, and acounter stiffener secured between the rear portion of the vamp and thelower portion of the said reinforcing section and having its endportions projecting beyond the edges of the reinforcing section andsecured to the vamp, substantially as set forth.

2. An upper for foot gear comprising a vamp, a front leg section securedto the vamp and having its sides extending to the middle of the device,a back leg section having lower forward extensions attached to the frontleg section and secured to the vamp, an inner reinforcing and stayingsection for the back conforming to and corresponding in shape with thesaid back leg section and projecting beyond the lower edge thereof adistance corresponding to the Width of the rear portion of the vamp toreach to the lower edge thereof, elastic gores secured in the spacesbetween the opposing edges of the front and back sections, and a counterstiffener secured between the rear portion of the vamp and the lowerportion of the said reinforcing section and I20 having its end portionsprojecting beyond the edges of the reinforcing section and secured .tothe vamp, a top, front and back portion secured at the sides in linewith the side scam, the lower edge of the back portion being straight,and of the front portion curved, and the top edges of the leg sectionsbeing of corresponding shape, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OSCAR I. HURD.

Witnesses:

R. F. BIEBER, J. N. PIERoY.

